Cremator

ABSTRACT

This invention is an apparatus of simple and inexpensive design for cremation of animal carcasses using a single burner to cremate efficiently in the absence of objectionable smoke and odor levels.

United States Patent 1151 3,699,904 Brown et al. 1 Oct. 24, 1972CREMATOR 2,044,085 6/1936 La ghetto ..110/18 72 Inventors: w B N rthMartin 1 Snodgrass; Marion Ruler g 2,242,653 5/1941 Maxwell ..110/8Webster Street; Jam Bnuel, 3,177,827 4/1965 Melvin ..110/3 x LanglevmeRoad, an of Taylomne, 3,176,634 4/1965 Martm ..110/3 111. 62568 Pr. Em Kthw S zmary mmerenne prague [22] Flled' Sept 1970 Attorney-Walter T.Morey and John F. Dunn [2]] App]. No.: 68,614

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. c1. ..110/8 c, 110/18 c This invention is anapparatus of simple and p [51] Int. Cl ..F23g 5/12 Sivc ign forcremation of animal carcasses using a [58] Field of Search ..1 10/3, 8,8 C, 18, 18 C single burner to cremate efficiently in the absence ofobjectionable smoke and odor levels. f 't [56] UNITED STATES PATENTS2,847,951 8/1958 Triggs 19/8 -24 1 ll 5 1 1 m 111111 n g 1 fifi fiwfyPATENTED 24 I97? 3. 699,904

SHEET 1 OF 2 0r roewsy CREMATOR This invention relates to an apparatusfor cremation of animal carcasses. More particularly this inventionrelates to an efiicient apparatus of inexpensive design which isadvantageous to cremate animal carcasses. Still more particularly thisinvention relates to an apparatus for cremation of animal carcasses withlow flyash deposit levels and nonobjectionable smoke and odor emissionlevels. Still more particularly this invention relates to an apparatusfor cremation of animal carcasses which can be readily installed andadvantageously maintained in operation.

In the past in many applications, animal carcasses have been disposed ofby burial. This generally employed expedient, however, is being employedon a less and less frequent basis with each passing year for the reasonthat increased labor costs have become a determining economic factorresulting in excessively high burial costs, especially during the wintermonths in areas of the country where cold weather makes excavationextremely difficult. The trend, therefore, now is toward disposal bycremation and away from disposal by burial.

Whereas substantial elimination of smoke and odor is desirable in bothdomestic and commercial incinerators, smoke and odor minimization isimperative in the process of cremation of animal carcasses for thereason that the odor thereof is generally considered repulsive.Furthermore in these times of concern for ecology and reduction orelimination of air pollution, reduction of smoke and odor levels isbecoming more and more important. It is important, therefore thatcremation apparatus burn carcasses in a manner that does not produceobjectionable smoke or odor.

Cremation devices presently known and available are capable of burninganimal carcasses to ash. These devices, however, achieve combustion ofcarcasses, with more or less resultant reduction of smoke and odorlevels by intricate, elaborate and highly inefficient combinations ofhigh temperatures, slow burn rates and high fuel consumption. Forexample, with devices presently available on the market it may takelonger than ten hours to burn two hundred pounds of carcass.

Devices presently available on the market are disadvantageous because ofhigh initial cost which is the result of complex construction anddesign, and also because of impractical fuel requirements and slowburning rates. Furthermore known devices involve frequent andcomplicated maintenance problems.

An object of this invention is an apparatus for the cremation of animalcarcasses. Another object of this invention is .an improved apparatus ofsimple and inexpensive design for efficient cremation of animalcarcasses to reduce furl consumption and lower smoke and odor emissionlevels to within nonobjectionable limits. A further object of thisinvention is inexpensive cremation apparatus to meet veterinarian needsfor low cost devices to burn animal and poultry carcasses undereconomically advantageous conditions. Still a further object of thisinvention is an apparatus employing a single burner for both primarycombustion and afterbuming of primary combustion products.

FIG. 1 illustrates, in partial cross-section, an embodiment of theinvention for efficient cremation of animal carcasses.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in elevation, the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Broadly the present invention is an apparatus for cremation of animalcarcasses, said apparatus including a combustion chamber, a burnerpositioned inside said combustion chamber, means to supply oxygen to thechamber for combustion, and a flue adapted and positioned to receivecombustion products adjacent to the burner and afterburn the combustionproducts prior to their discharge to the atmosphere. Accordingly when acarcass, or parts of carcasses, are charged to the combustion chamber,together with air and fuel, combustion takes place upon ignition of theburner and primary gaseous combustion products are released to theatmosphere only after flowing into the flue adjacent the burner tofacilitate secondary or complete combustion and eflectuate afterburning.Thus discharge to the atmosphere through the flue outlet or stack isnonobjectionable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a container is positionedinside the combustion chamber with the periphery of the container spacedinside and apart from the walls of the combustion chamber. The containerhas a series of openings, which may suitably be the result of meshconstruction of said container or perforations therein to permitcombustion about the periphery of the container thereof with the resultthat when an animal carcass, or parts of carcasses, are charged into thecontainer, combustion takes place not only in the area immediatelyadjacent to the burner but also about the periphery of the containerwith the advantageous result of a faster, more complete, efficient andeven-burning process.

Thus it will be seen that the apparatus of the present invention isadvantageous in many aspects. It can be used to greatly reduce the timerequired to cremate a given carcass, and conversely, of course, it willfacilitate disposal of larger quantities of material in a given periodof time. For example, 200 pounds of carcass can be efficiently burned inabout 6 hours with applicants apparatus. A single burner is employed incontrast with known devices requiring multiple burner operations andseparate, duplicate afterburner facilities. The apparatus of the presentinvention is further advantageous because of its simple and inexpensivedesign and low operating costs construction. Thus applicants haveinvented an apparatus which both improves the efficiency of cremation ofanimal carcasses and at the same time reduces smoke and odor tononobjectionable levels.

Referring now to the drawings for purposes of illustration, theembodiment of FIG. 1 shows combustion chamber 1 having inner wall 3fabricated of a commercially available cold rolled steel and outer wall5 constructed of eighteen gauge black sheet iron. Walls 3 and 5 may beconstructed of other suitable adequate fire and warp resistant material.Insulation consisting of ceramic fiber felt formed in place or acombination of known ceramic insulations is provided in the space 6between walls 3 and 5. Various other types of commercially availableinsulating materials may also be employed. In the embodiment illustratedcombustion chamber 1 is elongated and generally cylindrical in shape.Other configurations of said chamber suitable to accomplish the intendedpurpose may be employed. Warp resistant, removable, steel grate 8 islocated within the lower portion of chamber 1 and furnishes primarysupport for materials charged to said chamber for combustion.

Burner 12 is positioned centrally in the lower portion of chamber 1 andfires up through grate 8 from below by firing against baflle plate 13.Burner 12 suitably is a commercially available power burner providingapproximately l00,000 to 125,000 B.t.u's per hour. It should beunderstood that, within the scope of the invention, burner 12 maycomprise other suitable burner means and may provide other suitableamounts of heat energy. Burner 12 must be capable of raising thetemperature within chamber 1 sufficiently to assure the desiredcombustion. Burner 12 is insulated by means of burner tube insulation14. Oxygen is admitted to chamber 1 by means of inlet 15 on top ofburner control 17. Fuel and air are admixed and controlled by burnercontrol 17 which, suitably, is of a type well apart from inside walls 3of chamber 1. As illustrated container is a mesh expanded steel chargingchamber, and is designed to admit air and flame to charged materialsalong the sides of the container as well as up through grate 8. Thisprovides improved delivery of oxygen and flame from the burner to thevarious side portions of container 10 within the combustion chamber 1.Therefore air and flame sponsor combustion along the sides as well as atthe bottom of container 1-0. Flue 19 is positioned in chamber 1 withinlet 20 adjacent burner 12 at the underside of grate 8. Flue 19includes pressure relief port 22, damper 24 for manual adjustment tocontrol air and smoke emission from flue outlet 25. Animal carcasses tobe burned are charged to container 10 through the large insulatedcharging door 26 which is secured when the apparatus is in operation bymeans of steel bars 27 and 28 and lock handles 29, 30, 31 and 32. Finalcombustion products fall through grate 8 into ash receptical area 30.Ashes are removed through ash removal door 32 which also is lockedduring operation by means of lock bar 34 and lock handles 35 and 36.

In operation an animal carcass or portions of animal carcasses arecharged through door 26 into container 10. Air and fuel are ignited atburner 12 to initiate combustion. Because container 10 is laterallyspaced apart from inside chamber wall 3 and because container 10 has aplurality or a series of openings therein improved delivery of air andflame from burner 12 to the periphery of container 10 is effected withresultant rapid and efficient combustion. Combustion products rise intothe upper portion of burner chamber 1 and are then forced to flow backdown through the burner flame and through grate 8 in order to gain entryinto flue inlet 20. Because the inlet of flue 19 is positioned adjacentto burner 12 materials which are only partially burned are furtherconsumed as they pass back through the primary combustion flame and intoflue 19 where final combustion or after-burning takes place. The degreeto which afterbuming is required is controlled by means of damper 24. Bythis simplified means of afterburning smoke and odor are efl'icientlycontrolled at desirable levels.

Thus it will be apparent that the apparatus described above is notlimited to the structure and the exact methods recited but shall alsoinclude other structures and combinations falling within the broad scopeand spirit of the invention, the detailed description, and the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for burning combustible materialschamber below said grate to direct flame and heat therefrom upwardlythrough said grate; means to supply oxygen to said chamber; and a fluehaving its inlet disposed adjacent said grate and positioned inspaced-apart relationship to said burner means to receive and afterburncombustion products of said combustion chamber.

2. An apparatus for burning combustible materials comprising: acombustion chamber including a grate means therein; a containerpositioned inside of and spaced apart from the walls of said combustionchamber, said container having a series of openings therein to permitcombustion about the periphery thereof; a burner means positioned withinsaid chamber below said grate to direct flame and heat therefromupwardly through said grate; means to supply oxygen to said chamber; anda flue having its inlet disposed adjacent said grate and positioned inspaced-apart relationship to said burner means to

1. An apparatus for burning combustible materials comprising: acombustion chamber including a grate means therein; a burner meanspositioned within said chamber below said grate to direct flame and heattherefrom upwardly through said grate; means to supply oxygen to saidchamber; and a flue having its inlet disposed adjacent said grate andpositioned in spaced-apart relationship to said burner means to receiveand afterburn combustion products of said combustion chamber.
 2. Anapparatus for burning combustible materials comprising: a combustionchamber including a grate means therein; a container positioned insideof and spaced apart from the walls of said combustion chamber, saidcontainer having a series of openings therein to permit combustion aboutthe periphery thereof; a burner means positioned within said chamberbelow said grate to direct flame and heat therefrom upwarDly throughsaid grate; means to supply oxygen to said chamber; and a flue havingits inlet disposed adjacent said grate and positioned in spaced-apartrelationship to said burner means to receive and afterburn combustionproducts of said combustion chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2including pressure relief means in said flue.
 4. The apparatus of claim2 including means to regulate flue effluent.